‘Batman’ and ‘Batman Returns’ double feature in Santa Monica

Aug. 21, 2011 | 11:00 a.m.

Michael Keaton and Kim Basinger in "Batman" (Warner Bros.)

In 1989, “Batman” ushered in a new era of superhero cinema and one of the key behind-the-camera figures was Michael E. Uslan, a producer whose name has appeared in the credits of every Gotham City film released since that first landmark Tim Burton adventure.

Uslan is the author of a new book, “The Boy Who Loved Batman: A Memoir,” and it’s packed with telling recollections and surprising revelations about the history of comics and masked-man films.

I’ll be interviewing Uslan on stage before the first films and plan to talk about his memoir and his long odyssey in pop culture — not only did Uslan write a memorable 1970s run of “The Shadow” for DC, in the same decade he taught the nation’s first accredited college course on comic books. But he also co-wrote a 1977 book called “Pow! Zap! Wham! Comic Book Trivia Quiz,” which I bought when it came out and still own. Maybe I will bring it along to the event — maybe I can stump Uslan with his own trivia.

Comments

5+ hours of pure torture and so dreadfully awful even in their days – long, confusing, plotless, endless messes. Thanks goodness Nolan made these wrecks irrelevant. I can remember my friends and I voicing our complaints at the DC Comics Comic-Con table after it was announced that Keaton was cast as Batman. They played it off like they totally trusted Burton's choice. It was a relief to read ComicsAlliance's recent reviews of the '80s/'90s Batman movies – http://www.comicsalliance.com/2011/05/23/batman-1… http://www.comicsalliance.com/2011/06/06/batman-r…

Batman begins opened the way. It may not have been the perfect Batman movie but it introduced a whole new generation to the character. Yes, we have all heard the tall tales about the comedian Michael Keaton playing the Batman character and that did not go down well with some fans. It turned out that both Keaton and Burton were more respectful to the character than anyone before them. From the critic to the audience ratings there is not a shred of evidence that the 1989 Batman was a disaster. Mr. Nolan continues the Batman interpretation that started in 1989.

The Burton films weren't that spectacular, and I personally find them inferior to the Nolan films but they were one hell of a ride.

And how is Batman Returns underrated? It was strongly well received by most both fans and critics alike and there's this minor loud minority that screeched that it was ''too dark'' or ''it didn't make any sense''…mostly by parents.

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